42 JOLKNAL Ol' THE DEPARTMENT OF AgKICULTUKE. J ULY, 1922. 



Europe produces about 90 per cent, of the world's supply of 

 potatoes, more than half of it being grown in Germany and Russia. 

 Africa can be credited witli only .09 per cent of tlie total jnodiiction. 



South Africa's Pkoductjon. 



The table wJiich follows, compiled from the 1919-1920 agricul- 

 tural census returns, sliows the total number of bags of potatoes 

 grown in each Province of the Union. For purposes of comparison 

 the total ])roduction in bags of the two chief cereal crops is also 

 given : — 



n XT i 1 T 1 Orange Free t, .„, 



( rops. Cape. Natal. Irausvaal. State lotal. 



Potatoes ... 291,000 134,920 o21,870 803,130 1,250,920 

 Wheat ... 1,118,500 4,500 285,050 130,010 1,538,720 



Maize ... 502,800 1,442,540 3,923,000 3,500,740 9,369,080 



From th.e above, it is evident that the potato ranks only third 

 in importance among the crops produced in the Union. It is likely 

 to remain so as our present market for the crop is confined to the local 

 trade, which is limited in extent. 



JJelow is given the two highest producing districts in ea(di 

 Province, and the quantity produced by each of tliem : — 



(,)uanlity Produced in Bags. 



Humansdorp, Cape 20,880 



Stellenbosch, Cape 18,240 



Newcastle, Natal 24,455 



Estcourt, Natal 17,220 



Thaba 'Nchu, Orange Free State... 87,380 



Lad\'brand, Orange Free State 47,550 



Bethal, Transvaal 140,790 



Middelbnrg, Transvaal 47,550 



The above figures show that the outstanding district for the 

 Union is Bethal. 



The percentage of the total ])roduction grown luuhu- irrigation 

 is difficult to estinuite, but it is safe to assume that most of the 

 potatoes are grown as a summer- crop on dry-lands. 



Yields. 



According to the census returns the average yield per acre for 

 the Union for 1911, was U tons, and for 1917-1918, only 1 ton. On 

 the high veld of the Transvaal average yields of 00-70 bags (4 to 5 

 tons) are not uncommon, and farmers growing the crop under irriga- 

 tion always reckon on getting at least 10 bags from one planted. 



Climatic Rf.qui kkments . 



The climate of the Union as a whole, with the exception of that 

 of a few favoured areas, is not well suited to the production of this 



